Chapter 2

Question 1

What is a theory?

Answer 1

A supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain something, especially one based on general principles independent of the thing to be explained

Question 2

Linguistic theories

Answer 2

Aims to explain why language developments

Question 3

Learning theories

Answer 3

Aims to explain how children acquire language

Question 4

Why theorize about language development?

Answer 4

Theories guide assessment and intervention

Question 5

What does Nature mean?

Answer 5

Generative / Nativists theorize that we Genetically predisposed to acquire language.

Question 6

What does Nurture mean?

Answer 6

Interactionist theorize that Environmental influences acquire language.

Question 7

Generative / Nativists Approach

Answer 7

Basic syntactic rules located in the “Language Acquisition Device (LAD)” in the brain help humans learn language specific syntactic rules

Question 8

What are the Two rule systems?

Answer 8

Universal system
Language-specific system

Question 9

Noam Chomsky (1950s) theorized?

Answer 9

children are born with innate syntactic rules or principles that help shape the structures of human languages

Question 10

Roger Brown (1973) theorized?

Answer 10

Children abstract information based on meaning-based units to help shape what they produce

Question 11

Interactionalist Approach

Answer 11

Rather than beginning with rules, child uses language input to attempt output and notices regularities (rules)

Question 12

Learning Theories

Answer 12

Behavioral
Cognitivist
Social
constructiveness

Question 13

Behavioral Learning Theory

Answer 13

B.F. Skinner (1957): Caregivers model language, in turn the child imitates that model, and is reinforced by the parents for correct imitation

Question 14

Universal Language

Answer 14

We all have the ability to abstract information. (used by Chomsky)

Question 15

Language specific system

Answer 15

the organization of the language one is exposed to (used by Chomsky)

Question 16

Reinforcement

Answer 16

when behavior is continued

Question 17

Positive Reinforcement

Answer 17

when something is given to continue behavior

Question 18

Negative Reinforcement

Answer 18

When something is taken away and the behavior continues

Question 19

Punishment

Answer 19

The behavior reduces in frequency or stops all together

Question 20

Positive Punishment

Answer 20

Adding something and the desired behavior decreases

Question 21

Negative Reinforcement

Answer 21

something is taken away to increase a behavior

Question 22

Cognitivist Learning Theory

Answer 22

Jean Piaget (1950s): Learning occurs as the learner adjusts his or her mental model to adapt new experiences

Question 23

Schema

Answer 23

Mental representation of items and events based on our experiences

Question 24

Accommodation

Answer 24

Modifying existing schemas or creating new ones

Question 25

Assimilation

Answer 25

Using existing schema to incorporate new information

Question 26

Language Learning Mechanics: Cognitivist

Answer 26

Child builds schemas based on experiences > When a child encounters a new experience, they make sense of the world by doing one of two things > Assimilation, Accommodation

Question 27

Language Learning Mechanics: Behaviorist

Answer 27

Adults provide language models > Stimuli/Behaviors- Child imitates direct model Or Child initiates the conversation > Response The adult reacts to the child's behavior > Consequence- Adult reinforces the behavior, the behavior continues Or punishes the behavior the behavior stops

Question 28

Social Constructivist Learning Theory

Answer 28

Lev Vygotsky (passed in 1934, work recognized in 1970s): Knowledge is constructed within social contexts through interactions with a knowledge individual(s).

Question 29

Zone of Competence

Answer 29

What the child can do independently.

Question 30

Zone of Incompetence

Answer 30

What the child is unable to do even with assistance

Question 31

Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD):

Answer 31

Competence that a child demonstrates with minimal assistance (Teaching within the ZPD is key to maximizing learning)

Question 32

Language Learning Mechanics: Social Constructivist

Answer 32

Caregiver identifies what the child can do independently > Caregiver sees what the child can do with some support

Question 33

Jerome Bruner (1980):

Answer 33

children learn language from interactions with their environment